The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1887-11-23
THANKSGIVING DhE.

By public proclamation, the chief e1
ecutiTes, first Of the nation aad then 0
the several states, hE'e set apart Thurs
day. Nov. 24,h, a. day os thanksgiving
and prayer.
Upon enquiry. We learn that there IS {
general intention among oar busines:
men to observe the day by closing theil
stores, at least during the hours of public
worship. We hope thst this intention
| IS not only general but uniyersa! and that
none are So harf put to as TO seek an
advantage over their more liberal minded
competitors.
Thanksgiving Day IS purely Amer
lean institution. 1t dates from the wear
1921 when VIM. Bradford, second COVER
nor Of the Plymouth colony, which bad
landed il the preceding December, re-
commended the observance Of the dAg in
gratitude to God for tbs first crop OF
grain Iaisei ii their new home. The
dag vas born with the birth Of tbs new
country and, ike tie liberty we enjoy,
comes down to uB rs Z heritage from Uur
Pilgrim f.Incr5.
The observance hu1eyer did not be-
come common untii Gh- time d Pre- idcnt
gaining q stronger hoS, until now the
say is 4 national holiday, dies non in
fiGantial circles 1t ID 100 ono Of the
gratifying evidences of the growth Of 8
broad national sentiment in our beloved
Southland that tho dSy, which after the
war was regarded as Giotinctively north
srn and therefore u1popular,is is becoming
more and mere generally observed
It viii be noticed that the prociama.
items issued from year to year are in the
form Of recommendations. This is as it
should be. The civil power cannot
dictate il matters UI religion The Pilgrim
ia athsrs set sail in the NaytloWer to escAp G
this dictatjon and vc, their unworthy
descendants, will not bind ourselves with
the fetters they cast off
The union OF Church and state is done
with in America. Ministers OF religion
have the rights of citizens and these only,
and officers Of the State owe to any and
all ecclesiastical organizations the sans
protection without interfeTence with
their internal affairs. 80 long IS these are
within bounds.
But when the chief executive, inst aEd
Of commanding, recommends the Observ
anCc of such a day, it is the duty of all
good citizens to heed the recommends
tiCn. The appointment is a silent asssr
ton of the fact that this is q Christian
nation. We ara not pagans; we are not
Mohammedans; We are not atheists
these VIC receive and aEsimilate to our
body polite; but as fJr ourselves, we are
Christians and acknowledge as the source
of all our good Him that created Is in
His image, that upholds us BY His power
and has redeemed US by His son.
We have noticed in Eome sections that
Thanksgiving Day is regarded by the
clergy as the one occasion OF the gear on
which they may properly give vent to
their political theories We have nc
desire TO limit the rights Of the clergy,
but it il our profound conviction that the
pulpit is no place for political disserta-
tons on Thanksgiving or any other day
and we feel that the high Office CT the
clergy is dishOnOred when there Issues
from It discussion OF thc affairs Of state
in which tho clergyman IS at least sn
amateur if not sCiOlist.
In other sections, the day is turned
into an occasion Of lsas!iDg and hilarity.
We have no wish to limit JEe good cheer
and scci&l intcrCouyoa Of Inc day, but
when this takes the place Cf the object
for which it HsS appointed. i is time to
pause and reflect We are not like the
beast whose cycssare downward, we are
not the arbitsrs Of Our own dCstinY, the
makers of cur own fortuneE-One is over
Us, even God and il is meet that We
should rcverC1tly assemble ourselves in
our respective Places of worship on the
morning OF that day to acknowledge His
right in Us and our loving, our loral
devo ion to Him.